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But the ordinary proportion between the respective values of two

commodities is not necessarily the same as that between the

quantities of them which are commonly in the market. The price of

an ox, reckoned at ten guineas, is about three score times the

price of a lamb, reckoned at 3s. 6d. It would be absurd, however,

to infer from thence, that there are commonly in the market three

score lambs for one ox; and it would be just as absurd to infer,

because an ounce of gold will commonly purchase from fourteen or

fifteen ounces of silver, that there are commonly in the market

only fourteen or fifteen ounces of silver for one ounce of gold.